Identification apparatus and improved seal element



Dec. 17, 1968 H. B. STERNBERG INDENTIFICATION APPARATUS AND IMPROVED SEAL ELEMENT Filed June 16, 1966 FIG.|

United States Patent Oifice 3,416,247 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 3,416,247IDENTIFICATION APPARATUS AND IMPROVED SEAL ELEMENT Herbert B. Sternberg,265 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11223 Filed June 16, 1966, Ser. No.558,109 9 Claims. (Cl. 402.2)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is concerned with apparatus forproviding a permanent record of information pertaining to a vehicle orother type of machinery and includes a bracket adapted to be fixed to apart of the vehicle or machinery and a cover adapted to be removablyengaged over the bracket, the cover and bracket each being provided withseveral panels and the panels on the cover being adapted to receiveprinted information, and a seal which is connected with a tongue on thebracket and which passes through a pair of openings in both the coverand the bracket and is adapted to encircle the cover so as to lock thecover to the bracket and reduce the possibility of tampering with theprinted information on the cover.

This invention relates to a novel system for permanently recording thehistory of a vehicle or other type of apparatus. More particularly, theinvention is especially concerned with apparatus providing a permanentrecord of information identifying the vehicle or other type ofmachinery.

This invention is an improvement over the inventions disclosed andclaimed in my US. Patents Nos. 2,973,596 and 3,006,092.

As is known from the aforementioned two prior patents, the apparatus forproviding the permanent information record generally includes a bracketadapted to be fixed to and project from a part of the vehicle ormachinery, a cover removably engaged over the bracket and fabricated ofembossable material capable of being imprinted with identifying indicia,and a seal element to prevent tampering or removal of the cover from thebracket.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the typedescribed whereby to provide an improved connection of the seal elementwith the bracket and cover, thereby to reduce the opportunity fortampering with the aforesaid apparatus, and provide for ease ofdetection of any tampering with the aforesaid seal element of theapparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a snap-type lock on theseal element while maintaining the seal element in a substantiallyflush-mounted relationship with the cover.

A further object of the invention is to secure the seal element to thebracket through the cover.

A still further object is to provide for a seal element which is fixedto an inner portion of the bracket.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusof the type described in which the seal element includes a strap whichis adapted to be flush-mounted with the cover, or recessed mountedwithin the cover, thereby to decrease the amount of space required forthe aforesaid apparatus.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus ofthe type described which is simple in construction and durable andreliable in use throughout the vehicle or machinery life, capable ofbeing readily incorporated in the vehicle or machinery itself and easilyprovided with the indicia itself.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing specification and referring to the accompanying drawing whihforms a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and the scope ofwhich will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a recording apparatusaccording to the present invention as assembled and installed in avehicle or on other type of machinery;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the bracket and cover separatedfrom each other, but bracketed together in position for the cover toengage the bracket, the seal element being omitted for purposes ofexplanation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along section line 33of FIG. 1, but with the seal element omitted;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 taken on sectionline 3-3 of FIG. 1, with the seal element included and shown in itssealed condition;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the seal element; and,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the seal element as shown in FIG.5.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, whichindicates the presently preferred mode of practicing the invention, therecording apparatus includes a bracket element 12 adapted to be fixed tothe structural part of a vehicle as described in the aforementioned U.S.Patents 2,973,596 and 3,006,092, a cover element 14 adapted to receiveembossed information on its outer periphery and adapted to be receivedon the bracket element 12, and a seal element 16 for locking the coverelement 14 to the bracket element 12. While the recording apparatus isbeing described in connection with a vehicle, it is to be understoodthat it may also be applied to any type of apparatus for informationidentification purposes.

As disclosed in the aforementioned US. patents, the bracket element 12and cover element 14 are of similar polygonal cross-sectionalconfiguration of an odd number of sides with all sides equal asdisclosed in Us. Patent No. 2,973,596 or with one of the sides having awidth differing from the width of the outer sides as disclosed in US.Patent No. 3,006,092.

The bracket element 12 includes a back plate or mounting device 20adapted to mount the bracket element onto the structural part of avehicle, an inner shell 21 of generally hollow prismatic configurationhaving a polygonal cross-sectional configuration formed from a pluralityof generally rectangular longitudinally extending faces or panels 22,the faces 22 intersecting with each other along parallel longitudinallyextending lines of intersection, the lines of intersection formingridges 24. The inner shell 21 is suitably freely rotatably coupled tothe mounting device 20 as disclosed in the aforementioned US. patents.

The bracket element 12 is provided in one of its faces or panels 22 witha single opening 26 substantially mid way between the back plate 20 andthe outer end 28 of the bracket element.

The bracket element 12 is also provided with a projecting tongue member30 having a width approximately equal to the width of opening 26 and alength somewhat less than the length of the opening 26. In theconstruction of the tongue member 30, it is possible to stamp out thetongue member from one of the plurality of rectangularly extending faces22, with a portion of the tongue member being pivoted on one of thelines of intersection or ridges 24. The tongue member 30 extendsinwardly of the panels 22 and the edge 32 of the tongue member 30extends backwardly so that it is beneath the next adjacent panelconnected to the line of intersection or ridge 24 about which the tonguemember 30 is pivoted inwardly, the ridge 24 forming one side of theopening 26.

The cover element 14 includes an outer shell which is generally ofhollow prismatic configuration, having a polygonal cross-sectionalconfiguration similar to and just slightly larger than that of bracketelement 12 for snug conforming engagement about the latter. The outershell 41 of the cover element is formed of a plurality of longitudinallyextending, generally rectangular, angularly disposed panels or faces 40,each adjacent pair of which is joined together by a longitudinallyextending rib 42. The outer end of the cover element 14 is closed by anend wall 44 while the inner end 46 is open to extend over the bracketelement 12 and receive therethrough the bracket element 12 in matingengagement therewith. The end wall 44 closes the one end of the shell 41while the other end 46 is open. Registration between the bracket element12 and cover element 14 being suitably provided.

The cover element on the outer face portion of shell 41 may be providedwith an undercut or recessed portion 48 extending circumferentiallyabout the outer surface portion of the cover element 14 and positionedsubstantially midway between the end wall 44 and the inner end 46. Theshell 41 of the cover element is provided in one .of its faces or panels40 with a single opening 50, which opening 50 is in registry with andoverlies the single opening 26 in the faces of the bracket element 12when the cover element 14 is in mating engagement with the inner shell21 of the bracket element 12. If the undercut or recessed portion 48 isprovided for, it is suitably aligned with the opening 50 such that theopening 50 lies within the confines of the circumferentially undercut orrecessed portion. The opening 50 is substantially equal in length andwidth to the length and width, respectively, of the opening 26. Theopenings 26 and 50 being of a size suflicient to enable the seal element16 to pass therethrough as will be explained further hereinafter. Thecover element 14 is fabricated of material capable of being embossed orotherwise suitably marked, so that any alteration or defacement of themarkings is readily apparent; the undercut or recessed portion 48 beingfree of any markings or embossment and being adapted to receive the sealelement 16.

The seal element 16 generally is of flexible strip material and includesan elongate or strap portion 60 adapted to be bent into circular form tosurround the outer peripheral surface of the cover element 14. When theundercut 48 is provided for, it may be suitably positioned within suchundercut or recessed portion to form a uniform substantially continuoussurface with the outer peripheral surface of the cover element 14. Thestrap portion is provided at one end with an eye portion 62 which isadapated to receive and engage the tongue portion 30 as will beexplained further hereinafter. The strap portion 60 also carries alocking member, forming part of the seal element 16, comprised of a malesnap element 64 adapted for locking engagement within a complementaryfemale snap element 66. The male snap element 64 is attached to thestrap portion 60 near the eye portion 62 and the female snap element 66is attached to the elongate portion 60 on the same side thereof as themale snap element 64 but at the end opposite to the eye portion 62. Themale snap element 64 is provided with a plurality of inwardly curvedbarbs 68 which are adapted for overlying and locking engagement with alike plurality of outwardly and backwardly curved teeth 70 on the femalesnap element 66. The barbs 68 being adapted for interlocking engagementwith the backwardly curved teeth 70 when interengaged to lock the snapelements 64 and 66 together.

The width and length of openings 26 and 50 are sufficiently large toenable the eye portion 62 to be inserted into the openings 26 and 50,respectively, so that the substantially rectangular opening 72 in theeye portion 62 can engage and surround the tongue member 30, and yet thewidth of the openings 26 and are small enough so as to be covered by theseal element when in its locked condition. The eye portion 62 is hookedor attached onto the tongue member 30, and the strap portion extendsfrom the inner portion of the inner shell 21 out through the opening 26and through the opening 50 in the outer shell 41 to maintain the outershell 41 in position over the inner shell 21. The strap portion 60 isthen wrapped around the outer shell 41. When the undercut or recessedportion 48 is provided for, the strap portion 60 is placed into theundercut or recessed portion 48. When the strap portion 60 is in therecessed portion 48, the top of the strap portion may either be flushwith the outer surface of the outer shell 41 or slightly recessed withinthe recessed portion 48. When no recessed portion 48 is provided for,the strap portion 60 overlies the outer surface of the outer shell 41.Since the strap portion 60 is of flexible strip material, it willconform to the outer configuration of the recessed portion 48.

After the strap portion 60 is engaged with the tongue member 30, andplaced into the recessed portion 48, if such recessed portion isprovided, the locking element formed by snap elements 64 and 66 areengaged with each other by merely forcing the female snap element 66over the male snap element 64 for the barbs 68 to be engaged by thebackwardly curved teeth 70. After engagement between the barbs 68 andthe teeth any attempt to separate the snap elements 64 and 66 results ina destruction of the snap elements, the barbs 68 and teeth 70, therebyproviding an indication if any tampering with the snap elements takesplace.

In the assembled condition, it will be understood that the seal element16 locks the cover element 14 to the bracket element 12 and is freelyrotatable with the inner shell 21, the back plate 20 being adapted to befixed to the fire wall of a motor vehicle or any other apparatus. Anytampering with the seal element 16 is sufficient to break the same, yetthe connection between the tongue member 30 and the seal element 16 issufficiently strong with the seal element 16 in its locked condition tomaintain the cover element 14 connected with the bracket element 12 forrotation with the inner shell 21 relative to the back plate 20.

With the present construction, it is possible to emboss or print on theouter shell 41 with the :seal element 16 thereon. The panel portion 74over which the snap elements lie in their closed condition may be usedto include column headings for the various identifying indicia.Accordingly, imprinting may take place by means of an embossing membersuch as the embossing member 45 disclosed in US. Patent Nos. 2,973,596and 3,006,092 or an embossing die holder substantially circular in shapemay be passed over the outer shell 41 to effect the necessary embossing.Furthermore, since there is a direct connection between the seal element16 and the tongue member 30 of the bracket element 12, it is notpossible to open the seal element and leave it loosely arranged on thecover element 14 to give the appearance of the seal element 16 as beingconnected thereto and to the bracket element 12. The elongate member 60has sufiicient spring tension so that if the eye portion 62 is notengaged with the tongue member 30, or if an attempt has been made toopen the seal element 16, the elongate portion 60 will not be flush withthe outer surface of the outer shell 41 or recessed within the recessedportion 48.

The seal element 16 may only be opened by the destruction of theelongate member 60 or by the destruction of the seal elements 64 and 66.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a recording and identifying apparatus for a vehicle or other typeof machinery, the combination comprising a bracket element adapted to befixed to and project from a part of the vehicle or machinery, a coverelement removably engaged over said bracket element, a seal elementconnected with said bracket element and receivable within said coverelement for fixedly connecting said cover element with said bracketelement to lock said cover element to said bracket element, said coverelement being fabricated of embossable material to be imprinted withidentifying indicia, said cover element conformably receiving saidbracket element to preven relative movement therebetween, said coverelement having several panels providing areas for said imprinting, saidbracket element comprising an inner shell having the same number ofpanels as said cover element, one of said panels having an openingtherethrough to provide a single openin in said inner shell, a ridgeinterconnecting each pair of adjacent panels, one of the ridges having atongue portion projecting therefrom inwardly of said inner shell, saidone ridge being adjacent said opening and forming a side thereof, saidseal element substantially conforming to the outer surface of said coverelement and including an eye portion adapted to receive said tongueportion in the locked condition of said cover and said bracket elements.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seal elementincludes a strap portion, said eye portion forming one end of said strapportion, and complementary male and female snap elements attached tosaid strap element adapted for locking engagement with each other, saidsnap elements being positioned on the same side of said strap portion.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said male snap elementis attached to said strap portion at said eye portion thereof, said malesnap element having a plurality of inwardly curved barbs, and saidfemale snap element is attached to said strap portion at the endopposite to said eye portion, said female snap element having a likeplurality of backwardly curved teeth engageable with said inwardlycurved barbs to lock said snap elements together.

4. In a recording and identifying apparatus for a vehicle or other typeof machinery, the combination comprising a bracket element adapted to befixed to and project from a part of the vehicle or machinery, a coverelement removably engaged over said bracket element, a seal elementconnected with said bracket element and receivable within said coverelement for fixedly connecting said cover element with said bracketelement to lock said cover element to said bracket element, said coverelement being fabricated of embossable material to be imprinted withidentifying indicia, said cover ele ment conformably receiving saidbracket element to prevent relative movement therebetween, said coverelement having several panels providing areas for said imprinting, saidbracket element including an inner shell having a single opening in theouter surface, a tongue member connected to said inner shell adjacentsaid Opening and extending inwardly of said shell, said cover element including an outer shell, said outer shell having a single opening in itsouter surface, said last-mentioned opening being in registry with saidfirst-mentioned opening when said inner shell is positioned within saidouter shell, said seal element substantially conforming to the outersurface of said cover element, said seal element being attachable withsaid tongue member and passing through said openings for coupling saidcover element with said bracket element.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said seal element including anelongate portion, an eye portion at one end of said elongated portionfor engagement with said tongue portion, and a locking device on saidelongate portion, said locking device comprising one member positionednear said eye portion and a second member on the same side of saidelongate portion positioned at the other end of said elongate portion.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said projecting tongue and saidopenings being substantially equal in width, said tongue being stampedfrom one of the panels of said inner shell and being positionedsubstantially midway between the ends thereof, said tongue extendinginwardly of said panels of said inner shell and backwardly of said panelfrom which said tongue is stamped and beneath said next adjacent panel,a ridge interconnecting each pair of adjacent panels, said tongueprojecting from the ridge connecting the panel having said opening andthe aforesaid next adjacent panel.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer shell isprovided with a circumferential undercut portion aligned with saidsecond-mentioned opening, said seal element passing through said alignedopenings and being positioned within said undercut portion to form asubstantially flush outer surface with said outer shell, said undercutportion being substantially midway between the ends of said outer shell.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said seal element including anelongate portion, an eye portion at one end of said elongated portionfor engagement with said tongue portion, said projecting tongue beingstamped from one of the panels of said inner shell and being positionedsubstantially midway between the ends thereof, said tongue extendinginwardly of said panels of said inner shell and rearwardly of said panelfrom which said tongue is stamped and beneath said next adjacent panel,and a locking device on said elongate portion, said locking devicecomprising one member positioned near said eye portion and a secondmember on the same side of said elongate portion position at the otherend of said elongate portion.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said second mentioned openinglying within the confines of said circumferential undercut portion, saidelongate portion of said sealelement in its locked conditionsubstantially conforming to the outer surface of said outer shell andbeing substantially flush with the outer surface thereof, destruction ofsaid locking device moving said elongate portion out of flush engagementwith the aforesaid outer surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,596 3/1961 Sternberg 402.23,006,092 10/1961 Sternberg 402.2

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. \V. I CON'DRERAS, AssistantExaminer.

